Support for head engaging device



P 1954' J. A. AILEO SUPPORT FOR HEAD ENGAGING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1962 Sept 15 1964 Ail-E0 76 SUPPORT FOR HEAD ENGAGINE DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1962 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z, ATTOAA/EV United States Patent 3,148,376 SUPRT F03. HEAD ENGAGING BE CE Jackson A. Allen, Carhondale, 1 2., assignor to Leonard P. Frieder, Great 1 9 1535-316, Filed Ean. 5, 1%2, Ser. No. 164,539 3 lairns. (Ql. 2-6) This invention relates to a head engaging device and more especially to a support for a device disposed adjacent the side of the wearers head. The invention more particularly relates to the combination with a head covering of a support for an ear engaging device, such as a sound attenuating ear cup or an ear phone, upon the head of the wearer and in proper relation to the ear.

Supports of various types have been proposed heretofore for supporting on the head of a wearer a device or instrument, such as an ear phone, adjacent the side of the wearers head. In many of these devices a member, generally of arcuate form, is utilized to extend about the Wearers head, usually over the crown portion of the head. Such supports, for example of arcuate form, have supported ear phones at one or both sides of the head, in some cases also supporting a mouthpiece. Certain of these devices have utilized two arcuate members or head straps extending from one side of the head over the crown or other part of the head to the other side of the head and pivotally adjustable at their ends with respect to each other to space the straps apart over the head. Head straps also have been made with two relatively sliding parts for adjusting the length of the head strap suitably to conform to the head of the wearer and to dispose ear phones adjacent the ears. In many of these devices adjustment involve reliance merely on frictional engagement of the parts and may not conveniently be made with the requisite degree of accuracy and security of position while the device is in place on the head, as is desirable for aviators, for example. In some of these devices the adjustment properly to dispose the device supported, such as an ear cup or other instrument, is not possible except by adjustment of the length of the head strap and by reliance upon the resiliency of a head strap made of a resilient material, such as steel or the like. Where the support for the device or instrument is required to be used in connection with a head covering, such as a soft or fabric helmet, the ear cups or the instrument being disposed in the side panels of the helmet, the supports of the prior art have not satisfactorily provided for lateral adjustment to fit the head of the wearer and to dispose the ear cups or instrument in proper relation to and with proper pressure upon the ears of the wearer.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a support for a head engaging device or instrument for adjustment thereof without removal of the support from the head.

It is another object of the invention to provide a support for a head engaging device or instrument, this support extending from one side of the head to the other and bein adjustable to move the device or instrument laterally into proper relation to the side of the head of the wearer.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a head strap construction for supporting a device or instrument adjacent the ear of the wearer with provision for easily and selectively adjusting the device or instrument to different positions toward or away from the ear of the wearer.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a head strap construction of this type in which the position of the device or instrument may be adjusted by gradual movement thereof toward and away from the ear without removing the head strap from the head.

aria? Patented Eept. 15, 1964 'ice It is a still further object of the invention to provide a head strap construction which, in cooperation with a head covering, provides for mutual support for the head strap and the head covering while also providing for the easy adjustment of the supported device or instrument.

it is another object of the invention to provide a head strap adapted to cooperate with a helmet or head covering and which is detachable therefrom while also providing the desired adjustment of the supported device or instrument.

In accordance with the invention the support provides two elongated members each having a length sufficient to extend about the head of the wearer from an end portion disposed at one side of the head to an end portion disposed at the other side of the head, one of the members being disposed inwardly toward the head with respect to the other. These members are secured together at connection points that are disposed adjacent the respective sides of the head. Along at least a part of the length of these members between the connection points they are spaced apart, one inwardly with respect to the other toward the head. Thus, having regard to the extent of both members about the head, ordinarily the inwardly disposed member is shorter than the other.

It is a significant feature of the invention that means are provided for moving these members one with respect to the other adjacent a location along the length thereof between the points of connection of the two members to each other above mentioned. When, by suitable means, force is applied to the members at this location to bring them into a more closely spaced relation, the contour along the length of the members is changed so as to eifect movement of at least one of the connection points toward the head of the wearer. Thus, the device or instrument which is carried by the support structure is moved toward the head of the earer at the adjacent side of the head. Upon operation of the means referred to so as to effect movement of the two members away from each other at the location, movement of the connection point and of the device or instrument away from the side of the head of the wearer is produced.

In the preferred embodiment or" the invention a head strap structure is provided which comprises an outwardly disposed member formed of a stiflly resilient material, preferably of a plastic, which by a suitable method may be brought to an arched or arcuate form in its unstressed condition and which is capable of resilient flexure in the length thereof. The inwardly disposed member also may be of generally arched or arcuate contour in the unstressed condition thereof. These members may be provided by plastic strips of suitable width and of suitable thickness, ordinarily the outer strip or head strap being somewhat thicker and somewhat wider than the inner member. In the broad concept of the invention, however, the inner member may be provided by any suitable member capable of developing tension therein and of transmitting therethrough the tension stress brought thereon by the means which effects the movement of the members toward each other, to draw the connection point inwardly toward the head of the wearer. If the inwardly disposed member is in the form of a plastic strip it may act as such a tension member and, as well, may contribute by virtue of its resilience to restoring the head strap construction to its initial condition, which may be the condition with one or both of the members in unstrained or released condition, when the means referred to for moving the two members toward each other is operated to effect separation thereof. The action and cooperation of these two members and of the means for effecting movement thereof toward and away from each other will be more clearly understood from the description taken in connection with the drawing.

. P9d3i jac'ent ear cup. Such an ear cup, with or without an rther feature of the invention that such a head ructure may cooperate with a helmet, and particuwith a soft helmet having side openings in which are s ipported ear cups adapted to contain instruments or, if desired, without instruments to shut out noise from the ears of the wearer. Such ear cups supported by a soft helmet may be of the type disclosed in the application of Jackson A. Aileo, filed February 11, 1959, and in Patent 3,005,203, issued October 24, 1961, on that a plication, these ear cups being adjustable gn elfiptic shaped openings in the sidg pa elsfitfiedge portion of each panel alpngtthefpfiphery of its opening being disoove between flanges carried by the adinstrument therein, may be removably secured to the end portion of the head strap construction, so that upon operation of the means for changing the spacing of the two elongated members of the head strap construction, the ear cup may be moved toward or away from the ear of the wearer of the helmet. The flexibility of the soft helmet fabric makes possible such lateral movement of the supported ear cup.

In order to secure cooperation of this type of head strap construction with such a soft helmet, the helmet may be provided with a flap connected thereto and disposed and formed so as to extend over upon the head strap construction about the outwardly disposed member thereof. Means are carried by the flap for engaging the helmet, or for engaging a second flap carried by the helmet and disposed at the opposite side of the head strap construction from the first flap, so as to secure the flap to the helmet or to the second flap, thereby to hold the crown portion of the helmet and the head strap construction with respect to each other. i

Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from the description of the drawings to follow in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front elevation of a soft helmet and cooperating therewith the head strap construction of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the helmet and the head strap construction, taken at the right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a section on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a section on line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a section on line 55 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 shows in full lines the head strap construction in the released condition, the dotted outlines showing the contour when the two members are brought into more closely spaced relation;

FIG. 7 shows a detail of the flap securing means;

FIG. 8 shows a modified construction of the means for adjusting the spacing of the two members.

in FIGS. 1 and 2 the soft helmet 1 is composed of a plurality of panels 3 extending over the forehead portion, the crown portion and the back portion of the head. The panels 3 are of such shape as to be joined by seams 5 so as to conform to these several portions of the head of the wearer. This soft helmet also is provided with side panels 7 joined by seams 6 to the panels 3 and having elliptical openings at the respective sides of the head in which, in the manner disclosed in the Patent 3,005,203, are disposed ear cups 9 which may be of rigid generally ellipsoidal form provided, for example, by a molded plastic. Each ear cup is provided with flanges 11 and 13, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, forming a channel therebetween in which the hennned edge portion 15 about the opening in the panel '7 is disposed. The ear cup 9 at its rim portion 16 disposed toward the car may carry a soft padding 17 within a plastic casing 19 secured to the rim. The wall 21 of the ear cup 9 defining the inner space of the ear cup may carry adhesively secured thereto at its inner surface a sound deadening liner 23. The edge of the soft helmet is bound in the conventional manner by a tape or liner 24 stitched to the material of the helmet.

Extending about the helmet 1 and about the head of the wearer, when the helmet is in position covering the head, is disposed a head strap structure 25 which comprises a head strap 27 in the form of a strip of suflicient width and thickness, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and}, to be stiifly flexible when made of a suitble/resilfnt material, such as a plastic, Th rtions 29 of the head strap 27 are glj -o acent the ear cups 9 at either side of eathe hhlinet and of the head of the wearer and are provided with a series of holes 31 in a selected one of which, as shown in FIG. 3, may be disposed a screw 35 to suit a particular size of the helmet, the screw 35 extending also through a hole in the wall 21 of the ear cup and having a head 37 at the inner surface of the wall 21. A nut 39 at the outer surface of the wall 21 locks the screw 35 in place in the wall 21.

Inwardly of the head strap 27 and secured thereto by a screw 41 and a nut 43 at a connection point adjacent the end portion 29 of the head strap is disposed an inner member 45 in spaced relation along its length, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, with respect to the head strap 27. As above generally stated, the inwardly disposed member 45 acts in part as a tension member which extends about the head along the head strap 27 between the connecton point provided at the screw 41 and its nut 43 to a similar connection point at the opposite side of the head. The end portion 29 of the head strap and the adjacent end portion of the inner member 45 are provided with registering holes in which the screw 41 and nut 43 are disposed, as shown in FIG. 3, to provide a firm connection at these points. The end portion 46 of the member 45 which is disposed along and in contact with the end portion 29 of the head strap is provided with a series of countersunk holes 47 registering with the holes 31, so that the screw 35 may be disposed in any selected countersunk hole 47 and the registering hole 31, as shown in FIG. 3. A knurled thumb nut 49 threaded on the outer part of the screw 35 has a circular flange 51 hearing on the outer surface of the end portion 29 of the head strap 27 adjacent the respective hole 31.

Between the inner surface of the member 45 and the outer surface of the wall 21 of the ear cup 9 is disposed a plastic cushion 53 of ring form providing a space 55 in which is disposed a helical compression spring 57 coiled about the screw 35 and biasing the end portions 29 of the head strap and of the member 45 away from the ear cup, this spring bearing also on the rounded surface of the nut 39 and being compressed upon rotation of the nut 49 securely to hold the ear cup and the head strap structure with respect to each other.

' As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the head strap 27 and the inner member 45 are disposed with the central portion of their lengths adjacent the crown portion of the helmet, and the head strap and the inner member are connected at this location, as shown in FIG. 4, by a bolt 61 extending through a hole 63 in the head strap 27 with its head 65 engaging the upper surface of the head strap 27. The bolt 6.1 extends through a hole 67 in the inner member 45 and carries a nut 69 threaded on the end of the bolt and engaging the lower surface of the inner member 45. Between the head strap 27 and the inner member 45 is disposed a solid spacer 71 which may be of a plastic and of cylindrical form and provided with a central hole therein through which the bolt 61 extends. Thus, at this central portion of the head strap structure, the head strap 27 and the inner member 45 are rigidly connected together in the spaced relation above mentioned.

At two locations at the respective sides of the central portion of the structure and spaced equally from the spacer 71 along the head strap in the embodiment disclosed, the head strap structure is provided with means for changing the spacing between the head strap 27 and the inner member 45. This means provides upon operation thereof for moving the head strap and the inner member toward each other and for effecting separation of the head strap and the inner member. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. and as will be understood also from FIGS. 1 and 6, through a hole 73 in the inner member 45 a screw 75 extendsupwardly, this screw having a head 77 which engages the lower surface of the member 45. The screw 75 extends also through a hole 73 in the head strap 27 and is provided adjacent its outer end with a knurled thumb nut 79 threaded thereon. This thumb nut has a circular flange 81 engaging a washer S3 bearing on the upper surface of the head strap 27 for effecting, upon rotation of the nut 79, relative movement between the head strap 27 and the inner member 45 to decrease and to increase the spacing of the head strap and of this inner member at this location. To aid in effecting the separation of the head strap and the inner member after they have been moved to a closer spacing with respect to each other and upon reverse rotation of the thumb nut 79, a compression helical spring 91 is disposed between a washer 85 engaging the under surface of the head strap 27 and a nut 37 threaded on the screw 75 and cooperating with the head 77 to hold the screw with respect to the inner member 45. The nut 87 has a recess 89 in which the lower end of the spring 91 is disposed, the upper end of this spring bearing on the under face of the washer 85.

Upon rotation of the thumb nut 79 on the threaded screw 75 in the proper direction, the spring 91 will be compressed concomitantly with movement of the head strap 27 and the inner member 45 toward each other at the location of the screw 75 and nut 79 upon the head strap structure. Such movement tends to develop in the member 45 a tension strain because of the disposition of this member inwardly of and in spaced relation to the head strap 27 toward the head of the wearer. Thus, since the member 45 is substantially inextensible and substantially maintains its length in the form which it assumes as shown in FIG. 1 between the fastener 41, 43 and the spacer 71, the end portion 4-6 of this inner member as well as the end portion of the head strap 29 secured thereto will be drawn inwardly toward the center line of the helmet, that is, toward the head of the wearer. The form of contour of the head strap structure in such a strained condition is shown in dotted outline in FIG. 6, this figure showing in full lines the inner member 45 and the head strap 27 in the greater spaced relation when the nut 79 is backed ofi from the head strap 27, so that the spring 91 under its bias effects or supplements the resiliency of the head strap to effect separation of the inner member 45 and the head strap. The tension pull effected by the inner member 45 thereby is relieved, or is reduced until it is balanced by the resistance of the stifily resilient head strap 27, thus allowing the end portion 29 of the head strap 27 to move away from the center line of the helmet, that is, away from the side of the head of the wearer.

It now will be understood that, upon operation of the thumb nuts 79 of the respective means for effecting the decrease and increase of the spacing of the inner member 45 and the head strap 27 at the two sides of the head the ear cups 9 respectively may be moved toward or away from the ears of the wearer. It also will be appreciated that this may be accomplished without removing the head strap from the helmet or from the head of the wearer and without removing the helmet from the head of the wearer. It merely is necessary, as may be easily accomplished, for the wearer to reach up and feel for the respective thumb nuts 79 and to rotate these thumb nuts to the desired degree and in the proper direction to effect the movement of the ear cups toward or away from the ears to secure the desired pressure upon and engagement of these ear cups with the ears. To prevent backing off the thumb nuts too far, so that they may become disengaged from the screws 75, these screws are provided with end washers 95 secured to the screws 75 by small screws 97, a recess 99 being formed in each thumb nut 79 to provide for the washer 95 entering this recess, thereby to 5 make possible movement of th thumb nut fully away from the outer surface of the head strap to secure full release of the tension pull in the member 45.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, to the crown portion panels 3 of the helmet is secured by stitching 161 an edge portion 153 of a flap 195 of suitable fabric which may be the same as the fabric of the soft helmet 1. The flap ms is disposed at the rear side of the head strap and extends forwardly over the central portion of the length of the head strap 27 at the upper side thereof. At the forward side of the head strap is disposed miother flap 157 having its edge portion 1%? secured by stitching 111 to the fabric panels 3 of the helmet 1. This flap 157 extends upwardly and over upon the flap 155 and rearwardly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The lapping portions of the flaps 155, 157 carry respective parts of fastening means which are interengageable to hold the flaps securely together. The construction and action of these fastening means will be described in connection with FIG. 7.

It will be understood, therefore, that these flaps serve to hold the head strap structure and the soft helmet in the desired relation to each other, as shown in FlGS. l and 2, with the head strap structure extending over the crown portion of the helmet. It will be understood further that when the soft helmet is comfortably in place on the head of the wearer and secured by a fastener (not shown) carried by a chin strap 117, FIG. 1, engageable with a cooperating fastener 119, the head strap structure will be disposed properly with respect to the crown portion of the head. The ear cups 9 may be adjusted by rotation thereof on the axis of the screws 35 as described in the Aileo Patent 3,005,203 to dispose these ear cups in proper angular relation to the ears of the wearer of the helmet. Upon operation of the thumb nut 75, these ear cups then may be brought to the desired position and with the desired pressure thereof upon the ears of the wearer. The helmet also may be provided with a conventional back strap 121 as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in the drawings, a resilient cushion or pad 123, for example of sponge plastic, may be secured to the lower surface of the member 45 to cushion the crown portion of the head of the wearer against localized pressure of the head strap structure.

While fastenin means of various kinds may be used for securing the flaps and 107 together, and especially for some types of soft helmets, those flaps may be provided with mutually cooperating parts carried at the respective adjacently disposed surfaces of the flaps in their lapping relation, these parts having surface structures of textures which may comprise a multiplicity of small elements that inter-engage or interlock merely by bringing the surface structures together in the lapping relation of the flaps disclosed. As shown in FIG. 7 in transverse section, one of these element carrying parts may be provided by a base strip of fabric 125 carrying a fibrous structure in the nature of a felt or velour, the fibers 127 upstanding from the base strip in more or less matted or interlaced relation. This base strip may be secured by stitching to the flap 155. The other part may be provided by a base strip of fabric 129 carrying a multiplicity of closely spaced small hook-like elements 131 which project from the strip 129, so that the hooks 131 may interengage or tangle with the fibers 127 of the other part in the lapping relation of the flaps. The hooks may be of a plastic and may be held in a woven base strip 129 of suitable material. This base strip 129 may be secured by stitching to the flap 107. By merely pressing the flaps 155, 157 together when carrying the respective strips 125, 129 the entanglement of the hook elements 133. with the fibrous elements 127 is accomplished to hold the flaps together without the need of accurate disposition or adjustment of individual fastening elements, such as snap fasteners. When it is desired to remove the head strap structure from the helmet, the flaps may be pulled apart, the hook-like elements 131 being pulled out of 7 their entangled engagement with the fibrous elements 127 by virtue of being somewhat resilient. A flap holding means utilizing entangling elements of the character just described may be provided by a commercial device available under the name Velcro. Anyholding means, however which may be found suitable and convenient V for, attachment to the flaps and for bringing about interengagement. of .elements carried by the flaps to secure these flaps together extending over the head strap structure may be utilized for the purposes of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows in section corresponding to the section of FIG. a modification of the means for adjusting the space between the head strap and the elongated inwardly disposed member. In this embodiment, as in that of FIG. 5, the head strap 27 may be formed of a plastic as a stifliy flexible resilient member having a form extending about the head of the wearer in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. In this embodiment also the inner elongated member 4-5 which extends along the head strap 27 and is connected adjacent its ends to the head strap and is spaced therefrom between the points of connection, as described in connection with FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, also is made of flexible material which may be stilfly resilient. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the inner elongated member 45 is rigidly secured adjacent the center of the arcuate extent thereof to the head strap 27 by means of the screw 65 and the spacer 71.

In substitution for the screw 75 and the knurled thumb nut 7h threaded thereon, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, in the device of FIG. 8 a nut having a flange 14-1 which bears on the outer surface of the head strap 27 and which may be secured thereto by rivets or other suitable fasteners 143 is provided with a hub portion 144- which extends through a hole 345 in the head strap 27. The length of the hub 144 is such as to provide a substantial length of a threaded hole 147 extending transversely of the flange 141 inwardly toward the inner member 45 and toward the head of the wearer of the helmet. This threaded hole may provide, for example, right hand threads of suitable dimension and the diameter of the hole may be such that a threaded element 1&9 engages the threads of the hole 147 and upon rotation thereof is moved inwardly or outwardly relative to the head strap 27.

A similar nut having a flange 151 secured by rivets 153 to the inner surface of the inner member 45 provides a hub 154 at the upper side thereof, FIG. 8, which is engaged in a hole 155 in the inner member 45. This flanged nut also has a downwardly extending hub 157 and is provided with a hole 159 threaded with threads of opposite hand to the threads of the hole 147. The lower end of the threaded element 149 is provided with threads of opposite hand to the threads of the upper part thereof so as to engage the threads of the hole 159. A knurled edge wheel 161 is secured upon the threaded element 149 between these threads of opposite hand, this knurled wheel having a diameter so as to extend outwardly somewhat beyond the edges of the head strap 27 in order that it readily may be reached by the fingers of the hand of the wearer to turn the wheel and, therefore, to rotate the threaded element on the axis thereof.

It will be apparent, upon turning the wheel in a given direction, that the two nuts will be moved in separating movement, thereby to effect separation of the head strap 27 and the inner member 45 with respect to each other. Upon reverse turning movement of the wheel 161 the head strap 27 and the inner member 45 will be drawn toward each other. Thus will be accomplished the requisite movement to change the spacing of the head strap and the inner member at the location therealong in which these parts are spaced from each other, so as to effect the movement of the end portions thereof which are connected together, thereby to effect movement of the supported device toward or away from the side of the head of the wearer in the same manner as described in connection with FIGS. 1, 5 and 6.

It will be understood that the plastic resilient c f 123 also may be provided in'the emlioiliifi ht of FIG. 8 as described in connection with FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, this cushion in the embodiment being described extending over the lower hub 157 of the flanged not which is secured to the lower side of the inner member 45. This cushion prevents contact of this hub or of the lower end of the rotatable threaded element 149 with the head of the wearer. The modification of FIG. 8 has the advantage of avoiding the use of parts outwardly projecting from the outer surface of the head strap 27, thereby avoiding catching of these outwardly projecting parts in portions of the soft helment or in other structure while retaining the ease of operation of the adjusting device since the knurled edge wheel may be easily reached by the fingers of the hand when the support device and the helmet are in place on the head of the wearer.

Instead of forming the head strap and the inner member cooperating therewith of a plastic either or both of these parts of the head strap structure may be made of other materials, such as steel or other metal, which will provide the desired stifily resilient characteristic to secure the general form of the head strap structure for extending about the head of the wearer while also providing for the movement concomitantly with resiliently changing the contour or curvature of the head strap to dispose the ear cups or other device closer to or further away fromthe sides of the head of the wearer. Within the scope of the invention also the inner member which acts as a tension member may be provided by a flexible non-resilient fabric capable of transmitting the tension stress, reliance being placed on the resilience of the head strap to effect the restoration from the position with the ear cups close to the head to the position in which these cups are further away from the head concomitantly with operation of the thumb nuts 79 or the knurled wheel 161 to release the pull of the tension member with respect to the head strap.

It will be understood further that the head strap structure comprising the head strap and the tension member in the spaced relation described and provided with means for changing the spacing at a given location along the head strap may be utilized in connection with other types of helmet than a soft helmet, or the head strap structure may be used by a wearer without a helmet, in order to dispose ear cups or car phones or other instruments supported by the head strap structure in suitable relation to the side of the head of the wearer or to the ears. The cushion carried by the inner member at the side thereof toward the head then may be such as will directly engage and cushion the head of the wearer of the head strap structure against undue pressure upon the head. All such variations and those within the skill of the art may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A support adapted to support a device adjacent at least one side of the head of a wearer comprising an elongated curved resiliently flexible head strap extending be tween spaced end portions thereof, said head strap being thereby adapted to lie along the top of a wearers head when applied thereto and at least one of said end portions being adapted to be thereby positioned adjacent a side of the wearers head, said one of said end portions having a said device attached thereto; an elongated generally curved resiliently flexible tension strap arranged with a substantial portion of its length along the inner curved side of said head strap in spaced relation thereto, said tension strap extending along said head strap between connection points that are disposed adjacent the end portions of said head strap, said tension strap having a shorter length between said connection points than said head strap; adjustable spacing means connecting said tension strap to said head strap at a location intermediate said connection points, said adjustable spacing means being 9 operable to move the tension strap and head strap toward and away from each other at said location, thereby changing the shape of said head strap so that said device is adapted to be correspondingly moved toward and away from the adjacent side of the wearers head.

2. A support adapted to support a device adjacent the side of the head of a wearer comprising an elongated generally U-shaped resiliently flexible head strap extending between spaced end portions thereof, said head strap being thereby adapted to lie across the top of a wearers head when applied thereto and said end portions being adapted to be thereby positioned adjacent the sides of the wearers head, at least one of said end portions having a said device attached thereto; an elongated generally U- shaped resiliently flexible tension strap arranged with a substantial portion of its length along the inner curved side of said U-shaped head strap in spaced relation thereto, said tension strap extending along said head strap between connection points that are disposed adjacent the end portions of said head strap, said tension strap having a shorter length between said connection points than said head strap; adjustable spacing means connecting said tension strap to said head strap at a location intermediate said connection points, said adjustable spacing means including biasing means against which said adjustable spacing means must work, said adjustable spacing means being operable in conjunction with said biasing means to move the tension strap and head strap toward and away from each other at said location, thereby changing the shape of said U-shaped head strap so that said device is adapted to be correspondingly moved toward and away from the adjacent side of the wearers head.

3. A support adapted to support a device adjacent the side of the head of a wearer comprising an elongated generally U-shaped resiliently flexible head strap extending between spaced end portions thereof, said head strap being thereby adapted to lie across the top of a wearers head when applied thereto and said end portions being adapted to be thereby positioned adjacent the sides of the wearers head, at least one of said end portions having a said device attached thereto; an elongated generally U- shaped resiliently flexible tension strap arranged with a substantial portion of its length along the inner curved side of said U-shaped head strap in spaced relation thereto; said tension strap extending along said head strap between connection points that are disposed adjacent the end portions of said head strap, said tension strap having a shorter length between said connection points than said head strap; fixed spacing means rigidly holding said head strap and tension strap in spaced relation intermediate said connection points; a pair of adjustable spacing means each connecting said tension strap to said head strap, a first of said adjustable spacing means being at a location intermediate said fixed spacing means and a first of said connection points, and a second of said adjustable spacing means being at a location intermediate said fixed spacing means and a second of said connection points, said adjustable spacing means each being independently operable to move the tension strap and head strap toward and away from each other at their respective locations, thereby changing the shape of said U-shaped head strap so that a device on either head strap end portion is adapted to be correspondingly moved toward and away from the adjacent side of the wearers head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,167,368 Adams-Randall Jan. 4, 1916 2,717,437 De Mestral Sept. 13, 1955 2,717,930 Hintz Sept. 13, 1955 3,005,203 Aileo Oct .24, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 407,548 Germany Feb. 28, 1924 231,643 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1925 

1. A SUPPORT ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A DEVICE ADJACENT AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF THE HEAD OF A WEARER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CURVED RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE HEAD STRAP EXTENDING BETWEEN SPACED END PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID HEAD STRAP BEING THEREBY ADAPTED TO LIE ALONG THE TOP OF A WEARER''S HEAD WHEN APPLIED THERETO AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID END PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO BE THEREBY POSITIONED ADJACENT A SIDE OF THE WEARER''S HEAD, SAID ONE OF SAID END PORTIONS HAVING A SAID DEVICE ATTACHED THERETO; AN ELONGATED GENERALLY CURVED RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE TENSION STRAP ARRANGED WITH A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF ITS LENGTH ALONG THE INNER CURVED SIDE OF SAID HEAD STRAP IN SPACED RELATION THERETO, SAID TENSION STRAP EXTENDING ALONG SAID HEAD STRAP BETWEEN CONNECTION POINTS THAT ARE DISPOSED ADJACENT THE END PORTIONS OF SAID HEAD STRAP, SAID TENSION STRAP HAVING A SHORTER LENGTH BETWEEN SAID CONNECTION POINTS THAN SAID HEAD STRAP; ADJUSTABLE SPACING MEANS CONNECTING SAID TENSION STRAP TO SAID HEAD STRAP AT A LOCATION INTERMEDIATE SAID CONNECTION POINTS, SAID ADJUSTABLE SPACING MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO MOVE THE TENSION STRAP AND HEAD STRAP TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AT SAID LOCATION, THEREBY CHANGING THE SHAPE OF SAID HEAD STRAP SO THAT SAID DEVICE IS ADAPTED TO BE CORRESPONDINGLY MOVED TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE ADJACENT SIDE OF THE WEARER''S HEAD. 